//------------------------------// // Ch22 Welcome To Equestria, part one [edited] // Story: Jake and the kid // by peter //------------------------------// Jake and the Kid Chapter 22 Welcome to Equestria *** Applejack trotted down the lane, a worried expression on her face. "Big Mac, have you ever had days where it seems everything you say comes back to bite you in the crab-apples?" "Eeyup." Brother and sister trotted down the lane together, with Granny Smith snoozing in the two-wheeled pony cart behind the big stallion, who occasionally had to look back to ensure she was still there. After all, sometimes Big Mac got caught up in his thinking and forget he was hauling things around the farm, once to the embarrassing extent of dragging a plow into the house at lunchtime. "Ah mean just yesterday ah told Twilight that there was just no way I'd have time to go camping with her, and now look at me, trottin' down the road with the sun barely up all ready to go barging into their campsite without even a how-de-doo first." "Eeyup." "Ah mean, there's a darned tootin' good reason for it and all, 'cause you don't ignore no hoof-delivered message from Princess Celestia herself, but ah still feel guilty. You know what ah mean?" "Eeyup." “You too?” Applejack looked up as Rainbow Dash glided overhead before looping around and coming in alongside Applejack. She switched from flight to trotting and matched Applejack’s pace without missing a beat. The pegasus let out a real jaw-cracker of a yawn while commenting around it, “I was just settling in when a Pegasus courier showed up with a letter telling me to get my ass over to Princess’s Luna’s campsite.” “Come on now, Rainbow. It didn’t say no such thing,” Applejack chided her friend. “Oh, they put in lots of pretty language in fancy handwriting, but that’s what it came down to,” Rainbow said with a flip of her tail, as she let out another yawn. “Dang, I’m tired. I was up all night herding a whopper of a thunderstorm.” “That was yours? I heard that all the way out to the farm. A real window-rattler. What all was that about? Tweren't nothing scheduled.” “No idea. Word came down that the section of forest next to Twilight’s campsite needed a real gully-washer.” Rainbow gave a sigh. “Thank goodness we missed her tent. Twilight’s likely to be just a little bit upset about that prank I pulled yesterday without adding a thunderstorm on her camping trip to the list.” Applejack came to an abrupt halt. “Wait just a darn tootin. You were pulling a prank yesterday?” Rainbow Dash let out a braying laugh. “One of my best,” she boasted. “I bet Twilight didn’t get a wink of sleep last night. I can imagine her watching Princess Luna like a hawk, trying to figure out if the princess asking Twilight if she wants to toast some marshmallows was some sort of secret sex thing.” “Oooh, that does sound sexy,” Pinkie Pie announced as she bounced out of a nearby bush. “I’ll have to try that. What pony is doing it? I want to ask for tips.” “That ain’t it. Rainbow ‘Jackass’ Dash was just saying as how all that hooraw yesterday about Twilight and Luna was all a prank she was pulling.” “it was an awesome prank.” Rainbow protested. “Just wish I’d been able to watch her go nuts like I’d planned. Instead of spending the whole night wrangling clouds and trying not to get fried when Cloudkicker got carried away.” “I don’t get it,” Pinkie Pie said in puzzlement. “Doesn’t sound very funny to me.” “That’s what I said,” Applejack said in a no-nonsense voice. “Telling some pony some other pony is right fond of them, and maybe more when they ain’t. That’s just mean, not funny.” “Oh, that would be horrible,” Pinkie Pie said in shock. “What pony did you tell some pony liked her?” “The featherbrain tried to convince Twilight that she and Princess Luna had feelings for each other.” Pinkie let out a loud laugh. “Well, that’s just plain silly. Telling some pony the truth isn’t much of a prank.” “Well, I thought it was pretty... Wait. Say what?” “Well. duh. Anypony just had to look at them together to know that they go together like peanut butter and potatoes.” Before Rainbow could start arguing with Pinkie Pie, they were joined by the rest of their friends, minus Twilight. “Ahhh, here you all are. Marvelous,” Rarity said as she trotted up to the group accompanied by Fluttershy. Spike was on Rarity’s back, carefully holding paper wrapped bundles as if they contained the crown jewels, and with a look of pure joy on his face, possibly due to the lipstick smear on his forehead. “I see that dear Fluttershy and I were not the only ponies to receive an early morning missive.” “Yep, one showed up at the farm just as the sun was rising. Guess we all got one.” “One what?” Pinkie Pie asked. Just then there was a loud gasp as a pony in royal livery fell through the bushes lining the path. He lay panting on the ground while extending a hoof holding an official looking letter in Pinkie Pie’s direction. “Oh, so that’s what was going on. Silly me. I thought he was playing tag.” *** Sneak Peek wrapped both hooves around the jumbo cup of two-day-old coffee and breathed in the heavenly scent. His nose hairs curled and his eyes watered slightly as he lifted it to his mouth and took a huge slurp of the near boiling tar-like substance. “That’s the stuff,” he said, closing his eyes in rapture as various parts of his body that had been picketing for a return to bed threw up the white flag. A muffled, slightly soggy, clump came from across the table. He opened one eye and gave a sigh. Reaching across the table, he carefully lifted Cloudkicker’s face out of her bowl of oatmeal and apple porridge, for the third time that morning. Showing that there were no lengths a stallion in love would not go, he tilted her head back and poured some of his precious brew into her upturned mouth and then pinched her jaws together and waited for the convulsions to stop. “What the heck are you doing?” Berry Punch yelled at him as she gave him a hard whack across the back of the head. “That stuff is deadly. I don’t know why I allow it in the house.” Berry Punch took Cloudkicker’s face between her hooves and looked into the mare’s eyes in concern. “Come on, sweety, speak to me,” she pleaded with her friend. “I can see, everything Cloudkicker said in a wondering tone. “Did you know that there are four hundred and fifteen motes of dust floating in the air?” “Come away from the light,” Berry Punch cried, shaking Cloudkicker’s head so hard her eyeballs rattled. Sneak Peek rolled his eyes at Berry Punch’s theatrics and took another gulp of his elixir while rubbing the back of his head. If only he’d had some of this brew the night before, he might have managed to get out of bed to investigate the sudden appearance of some sort of giant tent out at the fairgrounds. He planned to creep out there this morning and check things out. A sudden knocking on the door, hard enough to rattle it on its hinges and cause some dust to sift down from the overhead thatch, broke him out of his day planning. Seeing as Berry Punch was still busy with Cloud Kicker, Sneaky rose from his place with a groan and ambled down the hallway to the door. It was most likely somepony wanting to see Berry Punch, as this was her house. He’d lay his money on it being the usual meadow-rats. They were the only ponies who were inclined to bother him this early in the morning, usually with pleas for assignments and private-eye training. On the other hoof, he had been absent from town a lot for the last few days, so it was unlikely it was one of them. He ruthlessly suppressed any inclination toward regretting that fact. It was sheer heaven not having to listen to their constant babble and questions. He tossed open the door while growling, “Whatcha want?” Seeing who was standing on the other side of the door set him back on his heels slightly. His eyes narrowed as he drawled out, “Chert. What’s the matter, run out of young colts to abuse?” The Royal Guard earth pony filling the doorway looked like he might have been hewn directly from his namesake mineral without a single polish afterward. Sergeant Chert was a Drill Instructor for the Royal Guard, whose mere name had terrified generations of young recruits. Now aged into semi-retirement, or some would say weathered into a higher moh scale number, his joy at trotting backward beside sweating recruits had been limited to a few days a week, dropping by the academy at random times when his acute senses detected a need for extreme shouting. Those flinty blue eyes were as cold as sapphire, able to evaluate a slacker with a single glance, which might be one reason he had taken such an interest in Sneak Peek. Or it could have been the numerous times Sneaky had avoided his guards and made his way into private gatherings. Of course, it did not always go Sneaky’s way. He had lost count of the number of times Chert had personally ejected him from a home. He did remember the three times Chert hadn’t bothered to open the door first. He gave Sneak Peek a smile, or at least exposed his teeth, causing the hairs on the back of the newspony’s mane to stand straight up and his mind to immediately try to determine just what horrible crime he had committed in the last few weeks. With a voice that sounded like a gravel landslide, he said, “That’s Sergeant Chert to you, Sneaky, or can’t you see the shiny tin hat on the top of my head? And I’d be more polite to the pony bringing you such good news if I was you. Especially when I went out of my way to make sure I got the assignment, just so I could give you the wonderful news myself.” “Good news. Good news is good. What’s the good news,” Cloudkicker babbled as she crowded into the hallway next to Sneaky. “Hello, beautiful!” The rasping gravel of Chert’s voice abruptly shifted into something as smooth as silk, while the older pony swept his helmet off his head and bowed to Berry Punch and Cloudkicker. “Whatever can I do for you two lovely mares on this fine day?” Who’s your friend, Private Eye?” Berry Punch asked from her place on Sneaky’s other side, leaving him sandwiched between the two mares, one of which was vibrating like a high-class massage chair. Normally this would have been rather delightful and might have served to distract him from his plans for the day. Right now it caused him to flush slightly at having it happen in front of his longtime nemesis. Chert didn’t even blink on hearing Sneak Peek referred to as Private Eye. “Ladies. A true pleasure to meet my old friend Sneaky’s marefriends. It is a wonder and an amazement what the love of two such fine mares can accomplish. Why the last time I saw Sneaky he was a sodden wretch who could hardly lift his head high enough to get it over the bucket in his cell. Keep it up and in another ten years the old dirtbag may just be able to join the equine race,” he said in a jovial tone that made Sneaky’s teeth hurt. “Good news. What’s the good news?” Cloudkicker chanted. “Has he won an all-expense paid trip to the Saddle Islands?” “Not exactly, my fair mare,” Chert said in a friendly tone as he reached under his armor and came out with a brown envelope between his teeth. If it had not been for his two mare friends watching intently, Sneak Peek would have slammed the door in Chert’s face and headed out the backdoor as fast as he could gallop. As it was, he had no choice but to take the ominous looking -- in his eyes -- envelope from Chert and tear it open. His heart plummeted as he extracted a laminated card on a lanyard designed to be hung around his neck tied, most probably by Chert, into a neat and tidy hangpony’s noose. “What is it?” Berry Punch asked. Cloud Kicker let out a loud snore as she leaned up against the wall. Even Sneaky’s special brew was not enough to keep the results of spending a night thunderstorm wrangling at bay for long. Chert looked right past Sneaky who was staring at the card in horror. “Why, my fair mare, that is nothing less than a press pass, giving my good friend here full access to the upcoming press conference, signed by none other than Princess Celestia her own self. With this, he won’t have to sneak around the perimeter, crawl under the tent, or otherwise contrive to get himself in. He’ll be able to walk right through the front gate with nary a worry in the world.” “You utter bastard,” Sneak Peak mouthed at the grinning Chert while plastering a pleased look on his face for the sake of Berry Punch who was looking happy for him, puzzled, but happy. Chert merely smiled back at Sneaky, who looked to be fighting the urge to try and kick Chert’s teeth down his throat, while repeating, “Yes indeed, a wonder and an amazement. Well, as joyful as this event has been, I do have one other pony to visit. So I will bid your fair ladies adieu for the moment. I hope to see you at the gathering this afternoon.” Sneaky, who had been planning on depositing his shiny new press pass in the nearest miden once Chert was out of sight, winced as he heard Berry Punch ask, “You mean we can come as well.” “But of course, my fair mare. The whole town is invited to the grand announcement, and I understand there is to be a party in the town afterward as well. Sneaky’s press pass merely allows him access to the Princess and the right to ask questions.” Sneaky’s last sight of Chert as the door closed, was of the sergeant whistling a cheery tune as he all but pranced down the street. Sneaky muttered various and sundry foul oaths under his breath. “What was that, Dear?” Berry Punch asked. “Just saying I’d have to do something special for the sergeant, in return for him going to the trouble of bringing me such wonderful news personally,” Sneaky said, plastering a smile on his face. *** Private Sweets was wearing a sugar encrusted apron decorated with flying candies and chocolates when he opened the back door to Bon Bon and Lyra’s back door. He snapped into a brace and saluted, sending a cloud of icing sugar into the air as his hoof slapped against his head. “Sergeant,” he snapped out while beads of sweat collected on his forehead, quickly turning into little balls of sugary sweetness as they gathered ingredients while rolling across his hide. “I hope you enjoyed your little vacation time, maggot because your time in paradise is over!” snapped Sergeant Chert while dropping a bundle of armor onto the ground in front of Sweets with a clang. “You have exactly ten minutes to get your valuable tin suit applied to your worthless hide and have both of them standing at attention in the fairgrounds just outside of town, so move it!” Pausing only to direct a polite smile and a nod toward Lyra and Bon Bon, who were peeking out from around Sweets, he turned and trotted off. Sweets directed a sheepish look toward his, brand new, still fresh from the package, marefriends, and said, "Remember how I told you I had one secret left that I would tell you all about as soon as I was allowed?” he asked while starting to put on his Guard armor. Lyra’s magical aura reached out and picked up the various pieces that were still laying on the ground. “Here, let me help you,” she said. “Your boss didn’t sound like somepony you’d want to keep waiting.” “We are so going to have a long talk later,” Bon Bon said, as she moved in to help him do up some of the straps. Lyra held up the various pieces of equipment against Sweets’ body, and then moved them again when he pointed out she was holding his left rear shin guard against his right front shin. After a few more corrections they were down to the very last bit, his Guard-issued helmet. “Uh, I think we have a problem,” Lyra said. “What? Oh,” Sweets said when he realized she was referring to the fact that the helmet, designed for a Pegasus, had no allowances for a horn. A wide grin spread across his face as he reached up and pulled the novelty horn he’d been wearing for the last week off his head and dropped it in the dirt. With great satisfaction, he buckled on his helmet in its proper place. Thanks to the help of the girls he was only five minutes slower than his best time, but he wasn’t about to mention that to them. “You might want to stand back, girls. I have to give everything a good shake to make sure it does not chafe or come loose.” With that Sweets jumped four feet straight up, with a little help from his wings, and came down with all four hooves held tightly together, right on top of the hated horn. Just to make sure everything was right and tight, he repeated the crow hop a half-dozen times. He was breathing a bit hard when he was done, but there was a look of pure bliss on his face. After taking a few moments to savor his victory, Sweets said, “I’ll try and get back as soon as I can girls,” and prepared to launch himself into the sky. Bon Bon had watched the entire episode with bemusement, but as she saw Sweets getting ready to leave her eyes widened as something clearly occurred to her. She ran back into the shop while tossing in a order to, “Stay right there,” over her shoulder to Sweets. She re-emerged a moment later with a paper bag clutched between her teeth. “For the Princess, if you get a chance,” she mumbled as she tucked it inside his armor. Giving his two marefriends a quick buss on the lips, Sweets took to the air with a light heart, and a head that felt a dozen pounds lighter despite the heavy helmet he was wearing. *** Applejack and her friends trotted into the old fairgrounds and came to a stop at what they saw. There was a long line of fillies (and one snipe) standing there, more-or-less, patiently in front of a gigantic gaudy tent, all of them, and it, as bright and shiny as a brand new bit. While that was surprising, it wasn’t the tent, or the fillies in front of it, that they focused on. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Twist and Curry were each one holding one of the Elements of Harmony, and in the case of the fillies at least, looking utterly terrified at the fact. Even Curry seemed to have picked up on the vibe and was holding Fluttershy’s element as if it were a fragile egg filled with angry bees. The five mares looked at each other, and then without any other communication needed trotted up to each filly (and snipe) who was holding their respective Element of Harmony. They bowed their heads and allowed the young ponies (and one snipe) to place them around their necks, each one of which let out a huge sigh of relief at losing the burden. Only after the necklaces were in place did Applejack speak. “Does Twilight, or Princess Luna, think we all are going to need the Elements?” she asked. It was Apple Bloom who spoke up. She took a deep breath and spoke in a stilted manner that indicated she had learned the words by rote. “Twilight says, I don’t think the Elements of Harmony will be needed. Princess Luna suggested, and I agree, that it is appropriate that they be here as we try to balance Jake and welcome him and Curry formally to Equestria. Besides, better safe than sorry.” Apple Bloom let out a sigh of relief at getting her lines out correctly. “We're supposed to show you where to go, now,” Scootaloo said, addressing Rainbow Dash. “Lead the way, Squirt. We’ll be right behind you.” It was Twist who took the lead, however, walking side by side with a bouncing Pinkie Pie as they marched into the entrance of the tent. Behind them a squadron of Royal Guards came in for a landing, followed by an entire herd of contractors who were hauling numerous over-sized cargo carts. Big Mac looked back at Granny Smith slumbering in her pony cart and wondered what he was supposed to do. “Hey, Big Mac. What all are you waiting for?” Apple Bloom called from the entrance she had just disappeared into. Applejack’s head looked out over the top of her sister. “Get a move on, big brother. You know Jake’s going to want to know where you are.” “Eeyup,” Big Mac said happily and trotted after his sisters, Granny right behind in her cart, snoring up a storm. *** “Like, really, Open Sesame,” Silver Spoon chanted as she focused all her will into projecting as much authority into her voice as possible. This was really, like, more Diamond Tiara’s field of expertise, but they had, like, already tested that and wearing Silver Spoon’s glasses had done Diamond Tiara no good at all, and had caused her to walk into a tent pole. The two fillies peered intently at the blank section of silk fabric in front of them. “Like, I don’t understand,” Diamond Tiara hissed in frustration. “Like, how can that little freak, Twist, like, open up the doorways? There has to be, like, something about her that the tent is responding to.” “Well, it doesn’t seem to be, like, her glasses,” Silver Spoon said removing her pair and nervously polishing the lenses. “Maybe it’s, like, that ridiculous hairdo of hers. What if we were to, like, dye and style your hair to, like, match hers?” “Mine? Like, why not yours?” Silver Spoon protested. “Pshaw, like, don’t be, like, silly. What if it, like, requires bad eyes, and a bad hairdo? We would have liked, ruined my perfect coiffure for, like, nothing,” Diamond Tiara retorted, patting her fluffy mane with her hoof. “Princeth Luna thaid we’re not to go that way,” came Twist’s voice from behind the pair, causing them to jump in the air and turn in place. They blanched slightly at seeing not just Twist, and her foolish foal friends, but the Snipe and all of the Elements of Harmony, minus Twilight. Pinkie Pie was a common sight to any Ponyville pony, as were all the rest of her companions. Diamond Tiara was used to passing them on the street without a second look unless she was showing how cool she was, in which case she would throw in a dismissive snort as she passed them by. She experienced a very different reaction at seeing them now. They looked, almost regal, heroic even. They seemed to stand taller, and look wiser, well, except for Pinkie Pie. Diamond Tiara felt almost small under their curious gazes. Feeling unusually flustered, she gave her mane a careless flip and sniffed at Twist. “Whatever. Like, we really cared, like, if we could see it or not.” “Yeah, as if,” Silver Spoon chimed in. “I believe you were going to show us the way to Twilight and Princess Luna, dear,” Rarity said to Twist, barely giving the two fillies a look, though she did note in passing that Diamond Tiara’s mane was looking unusually good. Rarity made a mental note to enquire after what conditioner the young pony was currently using when she had time. “Right thith way, Mith Rarity.” Twist trotted to the wall opposite Diamond Tiara. “Thth ith the way to the royal audienth chamber.” Twist paused in front of the wall and, very conscious of all eyes on her, stood up straight and proud and said, “Open thethame.” The silk wall shivered, and then drew back and folded into an ornate doorway. “It’s not fair. How does she do it?” Diamond Tiara muttered under her breath. “Wait, Silver Spoon. Where are you going?” Silver Spoon looked back from where she was just about to follow after the row of ponies who had walked through the new opening. “I don’t want to miss this,” she told Diamond Tiara. “Are you coming?” Diamond Tiara shuffled back and forth on her hooves as pride wrestled with curiosity. Finally, just as the doorway started to shiver in preparation to closing she cried out, “Fine,” in an exasperated voice and hurried over to join Silver Spoon. *** “No! I don’t want to!” Jake shouted, his deep rumbling bass of a voice causing the silk walls of the large room to vibrate. “Now, Jake. This is really for the best,” Twilight said in a reasonable voice, while inside she was fighting the urge to take a few steps back. The normally placid pony was upset, and she was discovering that from this close, an angry Jake was a scary Jake. His head was tossed up and his wings mantled so that he loomed over her like a mountain made of horseflesh. Jake backed away from Twilight, a look of betrayal on his face. “No! No. I don’t wanna. Why do I haveta?” The sound of ponies entering the room drew his attention and he saw Curry walking beside Fluttershy. “Curry, Curry, it’s terrible. They want to make me small. You won’t let them do that to me will you, Curry?” Curry went up on her tiptoes as Jake lowered his head so she could wrap her arms around his muzzle. “Don’t worry, Jake,” she said in a consoling voice. “I won’t let them do anything to you, you don’t want.” He felt a sense of relief. Curry would protect him. “But, you know. Twilight and Princess Luna only want to help you fit in better. Maybe you should think about it?” Jake tossed his head, throwing Curry up and back a dozen feet. Fluttershy caught her in mid-air and set her gently on the ground. “Not you too,” Jake rumbled, his eyes hurt from her betrayal. He stamped his hooves on the rugs as he hovered on the verge of a full-blown temper tantrum. “Settle,” a stern male voice commanded. Jake whipped his head around and spotted Big Mac. At last somepony who would understand. “Big Mac. Big Mac,” Jake cried out as he galloped toward the big red farm pony. Big Mac lifted his head and gave Jake a hard quelling look that set the big colt back on his heels. “Said, settle,” he repeated, his voice hard. He then turned and walked over to where a shocked Curry was standing with Fluttershy. “Okay?” he asked. Jake felt instant guilt as he realized he’d tossed Curry through the air. She could have been hurt. “Huh? Hurt? Nah, I’m not that fragile,” Curry said. “Jake didn’t mean no harm. He just doesn’t know his own strength sometimes. Besides, which. We do that move all the time when we go down to the swimming hole in the summer.” Jake nodded his head in agreement, his guilt dissipating with Curry’s words. That was right. He hadn’t done anything bad. Big Mac gave a nod to Curry and then turned toward Princess Luna. His determined confident air dissipated like an early morning fog on a hot day. He blushed, lowered his head and shuffled his hooves. He darted a glance toward Jake, and then back toward the princess, all the while keeping his eyes downcast. “Big Mac would like to have a private chat with Jake. If that is okay with you Princess Luna?” Applejack translated. “I think that might be a good idea, Princess Luna,” Twilight said. “But, Big Mac needs to know what we want to do if he’s going to talk to Jake about it.” “I concur, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna looked around the room till her gaze settled on Twist. “Twist, would you be so kind as to open up an antechamber and escort Jake there.” Twist’s expression was a mix of confusion and trepidation. “Princess Luna wants you to open up one of the little waiting rooms off of this one,” Twilight explained, deducing that Twist didn’t understand the term and that she was afraid of confessing that to the princess. “Oh. Yeth, no problem. Come on Jake. I’ll show you the way.” Twist said, leading Jake over to one of the nearby walls and whispering to it. The silk pulled aside revealing a small room furnished with large plush pillows. “I’m not going to do it,” Jake called over his shoulder as he followed Twist inside. “Why does the tent listen to Twist?” Twilight whispered to Luna. Big Mac twitched an ear in her direction. He knew he shouldn’t eavesdrop, but this place was downright strange. Anything that might concern it made his curiosity bump itch. “In truth, Twilight Sparkle. I have no idea,” Luna whispered back. “My sister gave Goose Down a crystal key that is attuned to the tent, and which can accomplish many of the same things, but not nearly so easily and intuitively. I have tried giving direct commands as young Twist does, and the tent pays me no mind.” “Ahem. Begging your pardon, Princess Luna. You all were going to explain to Big Mac what all you plan on doing,” Applejack said. “Indeed. Pardon me. It is most simple really. Young Jake, as you know, is only five years old, despite having a mature body. What we plan … *** “Oh, dear, are you really all right, Curry?” Fluttershy fluttered, brushing her wings over Curry’s body, checking for any injuries. “I’m sure Jake didn’t mean to do it. He’s probably just a little out of sorts. I know I’d find the idea of Twilight wanting to change my body very scary. I’m sure he won’t stay mad at you for long, so don’t feel sad.” “Mad? That ain’t mad. You should have seen him after his last vet checkup. He wouldn’t talk or look at me for a week. I tried to tell him it was his own fault for overeating and getting all bunged up. But he wouldn’t listen to a word I said. But once his stomach settled down and his appetite came back, he was as right as rain.” “Oh, my, I know how that is. Getting all stopped up can make one of my friends very cranky. I remember once Mr. Bear ate a whole keg of sticky cheese. I had to borrow a pair of rubber leggings from Doctor Spreader to help him get going again,” Fluttershy said in a clinical tone. Rarity, who was standing nearby, started to look more than a little uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going and hurriedly broke in. “We should take this chance to let Curry try on her new, fabulous, outfit.” Normally Curry would have found just about anything more interesting than trying on clothes, but the idea of getting another magical outfit from Rarity caused the ears on her hood to twitch upward eagerly, while the tail sewn on the back of her bodysuit swished in excitement. Still, her normal attitude toward trying on new clothes did cause her to confirm the most important thing. “Are these as magical as this one?” she asked. Rarity blinked at her, almost as if Curry’s question was strange, but then her expression cleared and she quickly assured Curry. “Darling. Trust me. I didn’t have nearly enough time when I threw your current ensemble together. But, I wore my hooves down to the bone working on this new one, and I think you’ll just adore it!” Spike, who had been standing in Rarity’s shadow coughed into his claws. “Oh, and of course, dear Spike’s contribution was invaluable. I don’t know how I would have managed without his help,” Rarity gushed. She leaned down and gave the small dragon a peck on the forehead, right on top of the lipstick smear that was already there. Spike’s eyes went wide, and he swayed slightly on his feet as Rarity turned her attention back toward Curry. “As I was saying, I’m flattered you think that your current outfit is special, but trust me. Your new outfit is the very epitome of magical beauty, and quite stylish too if I do say so myself. There is not another outfit in Equestria even remotely like it, yet.” Old Ben would have been amazed at the avaricious gleam that appeared in Curry’s eyes. Not at the expression, but at the fact that it had been put there at the thought of clothing, which had always been a bit of an afterthought as far as Curry was concerned. Previously only a nice piece of tack, gleaming in a leather workers shop, had put that sort of expression on her face. She had nearly fainted with delight the previous Christmas when she had gotten her very first set of chaps and had to be very firmly told ‘no’ when she wanted to wear them to the start of school. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let's try it on,” Curry said, reaching behind herself and undoing the fasteners on the back of her outfit. This caused her to bend over slightly and she found herself looking down into a pair of soft brown, curious eyes. It was the piebald colt Jake had befriended the day before, Pipsqueak. “Are you taking off your skin, Miss Curry? Can I watch?” Curry froze, a flush running up her neck to her face as she struggled to think up some reaction other than telling Jake’s new friend to get his perverted ass out of here. Salvation fluttered down from above. “Hey there Curry. Someplace you got here. Whatcha up to?” Rainbow Dash asked as she floated down from the peak of the tent some sixty feet above them. “We were just about to go somewhere a bit more private so Curry could try on her new outfit,” Rarity said. “That means no stallions allowed, I am afraid dear,” she said to Pipsqueak. “No mare wants a stallion to see her half dressed. Spoils the grand reveal. You know how it is, I’m sure. That goes for you as well I’m afraid, Spikey Wikey.” Both Pip and Spike puffed out their chests and stood to their full, not very significant, height, trying to look as stallion like as possible. “Yeah, what Miss Rarity said, you two,” Curry said in relief. Inwardly she danged Diamond Tiara for putting the idea that colts were boys into her mind. Unless she got carried away with the moment again, that bath the day before might just be the last time she ever felt comfortable around Jake in her altogether. All thanks to the snooty stuck up pony. It was funny, though, that Diamond Tiara hadn’t had any trouble slipping into that giant herd-sized bath with Jake and Pipsqueak. Maybe because it was more a swimming pool than a plain old bathtub? Once again, trying to figure out the standards for pony modesty made her head hurt. “Bore-ing,” Rainbow dash declared. “I think I’ll hunt up a nice pillow to nap on. Had a hard night last night. Speaking of which, I bet you were glad that storm didn’t come this way.” “You bet. You should have seen Twilight and the princess when they came in this morning,” Curry said with a laugh. “I’ve seen drowned rats that looked dry compared to them. It took Goose and me near on an hour to get all the mud out of their hides and dry them off.” “Twilight and Princess Luna were out in that storm?” Rainbow Dash squeaked, her voice going up several octaves. She darted a look toward the two mares who were discussing something with Applejack and her brother, and not so subtly moved around behind Rarity for cover. “What are we waiting on? Let's go see this new outfit Rarity whipped up for you.” *** Big McIntosh listened with his full concentration as Princess Luna outlined the situation with Jake and their proposed solution. He was already fully aware of Jake’s real age, but the revelation that Twilight and the Princess felt Jake’s body should be altered to match his mental age had been startling. He wasn’t sure he approved. Not that his reaction was obvious to any who did not know him well. One of those rare ponies, in this case, his sister, hastily interjected before he could make his views known. “Now, Big Mac, don’t go getting your dander up. You know that Twilight and Princess Luna wouldn’t suggest something like this unless they felt there were good and proper reasons for it. After a few moments of thought, Big Mac conceded his sister might be correct. She knew the parties better than he did, and he trusted her, even if he didn’t share her absolute certainty about the over-educated, in his opinion, mares. “Eeyup,” he said with a nod, but the frown didn’t leave his face There was still an important factor unaccounted for in his mind. Who was responsible for Jake, and his tiny friend Curry for that matter? They were both foals. There should be somepony who was looking out for their best interest, without all this political horse-apples. “Kinfolk,” he remarked. “Well, I do admit that is a very good point, Big Mac. Applejack turned to Princess Luna and gave her a polite bow. “Big Mac figures that Jake, and Curry, need somepony to speak for them as kinfolks.” “Eeyup!” Big Mac said with great emphasis. “What? Now hold on, Big Mac. I like Jake. He’s one fine pony, and heck of a willing worker, but he’s an Alicorn prince. I don’t think the Princesses will take kindly to a bunch of clod-kicking farm ponies thinking they’re good enough to raise a pony like that.” Big Mac adopted a stubborn expression, but before he could get into a no-holds-barred argument with his sister, they were interrupted from an unexpected source. “I think it is a most excellent idea. I am sure my sister would concur with me. Jake is a strange colt from another world, with power he, and most ponies cannot comprehend. Who better to raise him than good honest earth ponies who will teach him the values of the Equestrian way of life? That is, as long as you will allow him to visit Canterlot. As much as I might wish it different, that will also be part of his life and he needs some contact with the culture if only to inoculate himself against it. “Eeyup.” This time, Big Mac’s nod was enthusiastic and without reservations. “Well, if you say so Princess,” Applejack said. She visibly became more excited with the idea as she worked it into her mental framework. “Ain’t nothing more an Apple likes than bringing new Apple’s into the family.” “Wish you two would get to work on doing it the normal way then,” Granny Smith grumbled as she hobbled up to the discussion, drawing a blush from Applejack and an eye roll from Big Mac “That said, Jake, will make a right fine Apple. As head of the family, I say we take him in if he’ll have us.” “Eeyup!” “I will expedite any paperwork,” Luna said, with a predatory smile that boded ill for any who sought to throw grit in the gears on this matter. Giving another approving nod, Big Mac opened his mouth to make his last point, and as usual, found his sister butting in. “So, as Jake’s family I think--” Big Mac blocked Applejack’s mouth with a massive hoof. “Colt’s got the right to be heard. Not like shots, or a dentist visit. Be hard on him if he stays like he is, but won’t hurt him if we take care. But, he’s got the right to have his voice heard,” Big Mac gave Applejack a slightly sour expression as he said the last bit. “We’ll walk. I’ll listen. Then I’ll decide. Twilight exchanged looks with Luna, before stepping cautiously into what had quickly become an Apple family discussion, “There could be trouble if Jake fights the spell. It might be best if we give Big Mac some time with him.” she suggested. “True. If he should struggle against the spell, the consequences could be...” Luna trailed off. She gave Big Mac a searching look and then turned back to Twilight. Big Mac could see the question in her eyes and he too looked at Twilight to see what she would say. “Big Mac has done wonders already with Jake. I trust him to look out for Jake’s interest.” “Very well. We will agree to this,” Luna said regally. “There is just one final thing. Something I am afraid I must insist on,” she said. Big Mac eyed the princess warily, waiting for her to continue, and hoping her condition would not be something too onerous. *** Big Mac kept his face straight as Twist stumbled over her words for the third time, and took a quick look over her shoulder at him, her face slightly flushed with embarrassment. Big Mac was not a mares-stallion, but he was not totally oblivious to some of the looks that got tossed his way from time to time. Twist was not the first young filly to crush on him, and his habit was to simply ignore it, safe in the knowledge that sooner, rather than later, their attention would shift to some other pony. Finally, Twist managed to get the door flap to Jake’s temporary abode to lift back and out of the way. Jake stopped in the midst of pacing and before Big Mac could get a word out, he yelled, “I’m not. I’m not. I won’t let them make me small!” While Jake shouted and stomped in a royal hissy fit, complete with a stuck-out bottom lip and a petulant whine to his normally rumbly bass voice, Big Mac simply stood in place, watching while chewing a straw. Once he was satisfied that the colt had wound down, Big Mac nodded once and shifted the straw to the other side of his mouth. "Need to walk. Follow." With that, he turned and headed toward the main entrance to the tent. Twist galloping to get ahead of him and open the way. He had barely gone five steps before he heard the heavy tread of Jake’s stride behind him. He didn’t look back, just continued on, secure in the knowledge that Jake would be right on his heels. *** Curry could hardly contain herself as Goose Down used a crystal to open up a small room. So, what have you got for me? She asked Rarity as she stepped into the newly revealed alcove. The room was tailor-made, literally, for trying on clothing. Full sized mirrors ran from rug to ceiling, and a full half-dozen wooden stands sported enough hooks to hold an entire department store worth of clothing. “This is just perfect,” Rarity exclaimed in delight as she ignored Curry for the moment and took in the room. “This is really the most remarkable construct Princess Luna has brought. If I had known all the amenities it offered, I would have re-thought my decision to avoid… I mean, not to accompany, Twilight on her camping trip.” “This was the sultan’s dressing room,” Goose explained. Curry was glad to see that the dragon-pony was looking happier. After they had worked together to spruce up Twilight and the princess, she had even confided in Curry a little. Other than helping Princess Luna this morning, Goose had found herself sadly at lost ends with nothing to occupy herself. There were no cleaning implements she could find, and even if there had been, the tent itself cleaned up any disarranged furnishings or discarded trash. She had to fight down a sense of dread that Princess Luna might find the tent’s enchantment so convenient that she would cast a similar spell on her quarters back at the castle and make Goose’s job redundant. Curry herself couldn’t understand why the small pony with the big dragon-wings didn’t just relax and enjoy all the fun things the tent provided, she had never seen a person, or pony, who seemed to be so determined to worry about every single thing in the universe. She had even promised the little grey mare that if she did find herself out of work, Curry would be happy to take her in, although any consideration as to how she might actually accomplish this had been buried by Curry’s enthusiasm at the idea of actually having her very own dragon-pony. Curry turned her attention from Goose and back to Rarity. She took in the paper wrapped packages that Rarity was arranging on the rug-covered floor with an anticipation she hadn’t felt since she stopped believing in Santa Claus. It was all she could do to stop herself from diving right in and ripping the wrappings to shreds. “Oh, come on, Rarity! Quit making such a big production out of this, ” Rainbow Dash mumbled around a jaw-cracking yawn. “Open them up and let's see what you made for the squirt.” “Yeah, what she said,” Curry seconded. “Barbarians. I am surrounded by barbarians. Do you not have any sense of drama?” Rarity said, skewering Curry and Rainbow Dash with a look of censure. Curry’s enthusiasm waned slightly as guilt threw a wet blanket onto it. She was being selfish. It wasn’t like Miss Rarity had to make her an outfit, or was getting paid for it. “Actually, Rarity. I’d rather like to see Curry’s outfit right away too,” Fluttershy whispered, right before cringing backward slightly, and dropping her voice another few decibels as she added, “If that’s okay?” Curry watched in admiration as the bravest pony she knew put on a masterful act of cowering before Rarity’s possible displeasure. “Oh, very well,” Rarity said, throwing up her hooves in exasperation. She floated the parcels up in the air and over to Curry. “Rip, tear, rend. I don’t care.” “Don’t let her bother you,” Rainbow Dash whispered into Curry’s ear. “Trust me. She can’t wait to see your reaction.” Curry needed no further encouragement. She dug her fingers into the brown wrapping paper and shredded it, revealing the carefully folded cloth underneath. Discarding the scraps of wrapping paper Curry took hold of the surprisingly thick fabric and shook it out. It appeared to be a russet colored body stocking. It was, Curry saw on closer examination, the color of leaves in the fall, not one solid shade but dozens, maybe hundreds, of variations of the primary color. Threaded through the fabric were threads the color of ripe wheat. It was the exact opposite of her unruly mane of hair. So realistic were the colors that Curry almost expected the fabric to crinkle like fallen leaves under her shoes. Instead, it was as soft as Rarity’s own gleaming white coat. She held it up to her cheek and rubbed against the thick folds of fabric before burying her face in it and breathing deeply. “It smells just like a forest,” “I packed it in a box filled with sachets containing fallen leaves and wildflowers while I worked on the accessories that go with it. I made up extra packets you can put in your closet when you hang it up after a wash. This is only one of three sets that I made. So you’ll always have something to wear. I only came with this one outfit, but I’ll see that the rest of them, and the various accessories are sent along to wherever you end up staying.” Ignoring Rainbow Dash’s blatant staring, (Curry was darned if she was going to get all shy in front of a mare. Bad enough she was doing it in front of colts) she slipped out of her old outfit and stood naked in the room while she examined her new clothing to figure out how it went on. Unlike her old costume, this one fastened up the front. She stepped into the bottom and snugged up the legs and then pulled the top half up and over her arms and torso. The waist to neck opening closed with small metal hooks that were covered by a flap of cloth. Once they were done up the seam was all but invisible, even from close up. Stretching her body this way and that, Curry was able to tell that while the body stocking looked uniform in the mirror, there were areas that were reinforced and thicker than the rest. Her knees, elbows, bottom, all had thicker padding. Despite the extra material, those areas stretched and shifted easily with her motions, like a brand new pair of socks, before they got all loose and floppy and tended to pool around the toes inside her work boots. Speaking of boots, unlike her old outfit, this one left her feet bare. Even as she was noticing that Rarity opened another package and floated a pair of ankle high moccasins over to her. Mostly fabric, with thin rubber soles, the moccasins fit perfectly, and as she rocked back and forth to settle her feet in them she could feel the seams in the rugs quite easily. She bounced up and down a few times, feeling light as a feather. She felt like she could run forever in these. Looking in the mirrors, Curry grimaced. While her new clothes were comfortable, they fit snugly around her body, and compared to the ponies around her she looked like a scrawny half-drowned cat. Her legs and arms were like sticks, and her body might as well have been a log for all the curves it had. She didn’t mind the lack of any sort of fluffy teenaged shaping so much, but she would have liked to have seen a bit more muscle on her limbs. Rarity must have seen something in her expression because she hastily started talking like a saleslady in a store, which was not a positive image as far as Curry was concerned. “Now, I know the basic outfit is very bland, dear, but it is really only a protective layer to make up for your lack of a thick hide and a decent coat of hair for insulation. You could think of it as giving you what all ponies are naturally born with.” That last statement eased Curry’s mind a bit. She squinted her eyes a bit and imagined herself as a russet colored mare. It was a lot easier to imagine if she didn’t actually look at herself in the mirror, unfortunately, but at least she could get with the idea that Rarity had made her a fake pony skin to wear. “Now most ponies don’t really need to wear clothing on a regular basis. It’s merely a decorative touch, to highlight their already spectacular good looks, or to hide their flaws. You, however, need clothing as a necessity, and it would be so boring and bland if you had to look exactly the same every single day. As Rarity was talking she opened up the second package and extracted a swatch of green fabric. She floated it toward Curry, separating it into two distinct pieces as she did so. The larger, less complicated bit she secured around Curry’s hips so that it fell to just below her knees. It was a light green skirt with a flower border around the bottom hemline. The upper section was a vest made of the same material and with the same flower highlights. both the skirt and vest were secured with yellow butterfly-shaped fasteners. They took the form of buttons on the front of the vest, and a served as a large buckle on the front of the skirt, holding it closed and snug around Curry’s waist. About to complain that the combination was too girly, Curry was interrupted before she even started as Fluttershy exclaimed in surprise. “Isn’t that the same material and pattern you used for my Gala dress, Rarity?” “Very good eye, Fluttershy. Indeed it is. Don’t worry. I didn’t sneak in and cut up your dress.” “Oh, I never would have thought that.” “Why not?” Rainbow asked with a laugh. “When Rarity gets inspired, no pony is safe. “For your information, Rainbow Dash, I kept swatches of all the material I used to make the dresses in case some hooligan happened to damage her dress and it needed patching,” Rarity said in her best society voice, while giving her friend a quelling look, which as usual had zero effect on the pony in question. “Well, lah-dee-dah,” Rainbow chanted, prancing through the air with her nose held high. It was impossible not to smile at the antics of the two ponies, and Curry totally forgot her objections to the outer layer Rarity had plonked over her cool new body stocking as she let out a chortle. Ignoring Rainbow Dash’s antics, Rarity continued as if she had not been interrupted. “I thought that it would be nice if Curry had a variety of outerwear. This one makes a fine day-to-day outfit as is the one I made using leftovers from Applejack’s gown. I used some of the material from Pinkie’s gala gown to make her a party outfit, and some from yours in the slim chance she is foalish enough to want to engage in hooliganism. Of course, I used material from my gown to make her a presentation outfit for when she meets Princess Celestia in a formal court session.” “Oh, of course,” Rainbow said in a pompous voice. “That goes without question. Huff, huff, don’t you know.” Despite herself, Curry was a bit intrigued, not so much at the idea of different outfits, as at the knowledge that there would be different activities to wear them too. She had really enjoyed the last party Pinkie had thrown and looked forward to another. She was especially intrigued by the idea of engaging in hooliganism, whatever that was. She did notice one filly was absent from Rarity’s list. “What about Twilight? Didn’t she have a dress?” she asked. “Well, to tell the truth, I really could not think of any occasion where it would be suitable, except, well, maybe, a Nightmare Night costume. After all, formal wear is not really a requirement for star-gazing or other such activities.” Giving a shrug of her shoulders to show that she accepted Rarity’s explanation, but didn’t really have an opinion on it, Curry looked at herself in the mirror. She twisted her body one way and then another, causing the dress to flare out around her legs. She bit her lower lip in thought, and then reached down and took hold of the butterfly buckle. A quick twist and a yank and the skirt pulled free easily. Curry gave a satisfied nod. No risk she’d end up tangled up and looking silly in the thing. She put it back on, and once again examined herself in the mirror. Something seemed to be missing, and she frowned trying to figure out what it might be. Her hand went to her head, and she turned to Rarity and said, “There ain’t no ears.” She turned herself around and wiggled her backside in the mirror. “No tail either.” Rarity looked at her, nonplussed. “Well, dear. I was a bit rattled and rushed when I made your last outfit. I only added those because I had the idea they would help you blend in, make you look more natural. Not so strange, as it were.” Rainbow Dash added her two cents. “I got to agree with Curry. I thought they were really goofy the first time I saw them, but they sort of grew on me. She looks strange without them now. I mean those little bitty things she calls ears are almost impossible to see, and whoever heard of a pony or any other critter without a tail? I sure haven’t. It just ain’t natural.” “I think they’re cute,” Fluttershy interjected, in a very soft, apologetic tone. “Oh, very well, I suppose I can do something. Hopefully without destroying the way the garment flows. Give me a few minutes.” *** The fairground was surrounded by fields and trees. Under one of those trees stood two ponies taking in the bustle of activity going on in front of them. Where most ponies would see chaos, Sneak Peek saw patterns he could take advantage of. His experienced eye picked out a mobile supply cart. There would be safety vests and hard-hats inside he knew, more importantly, there was almost certainly clipboards. There was no better disguise at this point of a major setup than a hard-hat and a clipboard. Chert might think he had neutered him, but Sneaky would teach him the error of his ways. No standing around listening to the pap dispensed at an official press-conference for him. He’d get in deep and find out the things that the official release would be trying very hard to conceal. “Well, are we going in?” Berry Punch asked from beside him, dancing impatiently in place. Sneaky sagged. There would be no more sneaking around for him. No more hiding under bushes or peeking over fences. He was a respectable pony now. He had two marefriends to think about. Getting himself tossed in jail for the night was no longer a mere perk and an indication of a job well done, it would reflect on them. Damn that Chert. The clever bastard had known what he was doing when he gave Sneaky that press pass right in front of the mares. The grizzled newspony looked into Berry Punch’s bright eager eyes and heaved a big sigh. He fell into step beside his marefriends as he guided them toward the temporary command center. “Come on, Punchy let's go get me signed in,” he said in the tone of a voice a pony might use when walking up the stairs to the gallows. “Oh. My. Stars!” Berry Punch gasped out as she stopped moving and went rigid, her head turned toward the gaudy tent that filled up the center of the fairgrounds. Sneaky turned to look at what had drawn Berry’s attention and felt like doing a little yelling himself. Standing next to the guard assigned to the tent entrance was a black Alicorn stallion. The first impression somepony not aware of the facts might make was that they were certainly allowing tiny ponies into the Royal Guard these days. The guard looked like a colt who had just gotten his cutie mark next to the Alicorn. As did the big red stallion standing on the other side of the oversized pony. Sneaky knew the truth. The Alicorn was the monster who had single hoofed destroyed an entire apple orchard. And he was less than twenty-five yards away from Berry Punch. “We’re going,” Sneaky growled out. “Coming through, official press-pass here!” Berry Punch bellowed out Sneaky made a frantic grab for Berry Punch’s tail as she took off straight at the grouping of stallions, but his teeth snapped shut inches short, making him stumble and almost go nose-first into the dirt. He got his feet under him, and without a single consideration beyond stopping his crazy marefriend getting herself kicked into a smear, took off in hot pursuit. Berry Punch’s battle cry had drawn the attention of every pony in the clearing. A nearby guard hastily put himself in her way and held up a hoof while saying, “Halt!” Berry tried to jink around him but he moved to stay in front of her, just in time for her to slam into his legs as she ducked low. Both Berry Punch and the guard went down in a tangle of thrashing limbs, but it was Berry Punch who got to her feet and resumed her charge, leaving behind a green-faced guard who was curled up in a ball clutching his delicate bits. The enthusiastic mare only made a few more steps before an entire group of guards descended on her and wrestled her to the ground. Sneaky came in for his own detachment, as two guards wrestled him down. Despite that, Sneaky wore a huge smile on his face as he kept his eyes on the whimpering guard a few feet away. “My marefriend did that,” he boasted with pride, even as his muzzle was pressed into the dirt. *** Taking a walk with Jake turned out to be a far more complicated procedure than Big Mac had anticipated. On the farm, all that was involved was walking out the door and heading toward whatever field was on his list for the day. Here, there turned out to be numerous obstacles to be surmounted. The first one they encountered was a large Royal Guard standing at the entrance to the tent. A guard, it turned out, that Jake was acquainted with. He had called out a joyful greeting to the guard, who apparently was named All Day. It had taken several minutes for Big Mac to convince Jake that the guard was not mad at him, and was not giving him the silent treatment. He was merely on duty. In the end, he had to tell Jake that it was like plowing. A pony had to keep straight and steady while not diverging to check out every interesting thing he spotted along the way. Even though he accepted Big Mac’s explanation, Jake directed lots of looks back over his shoulder as they walked away. Then there was Berry Punch’s charge, followed by her coltfriend Private Eye. Big Mac had no idea what that was all about. Fortunately Jake had been more than eager to leave the area before the crazy mare and stallions started to direct their attention toward him. Then there was the gang of construction ponies who were busy setting up various temporary structures. Jake offered to lend a hoof to a very flustered forepony who clearly didn’t know how to deal with such an offer from someone who looked like royalty, except for his gender. Clearly, he had not been briefed on what was going on. His knees kept buckling as he fought the inclination to bow to Jake and was obviously having a very hard time telling Jake to get the buck away from his job site. Thankfully, the arrival of a gaggle of curious mares from Ponyville distracted Jake. Before Big Mac could head him off, he trotted over to say hello. What happened next was his fault, Big Mac had to concede. If he had not been with Jake, the girls from the village would have likely been a great deal more circumspect than they were. He was a favorite ‘safe’ target for teasing and suggestive innuendo on the part of many of the mares in the village. Seeing him and Jake on such friendly terms made them bolder than they might otherwise have been. Well, most of them. There were a few mares in the group that would proposition anything with four hooves, just to stay in practice, if not with serious intent. Big Mac knew he should have broken it up, but he just wasn’t any good around non-family mares. He got all sweaty and flustered, which he knew perfectly well was the main reason they loved to tease him so much. All it took was for one mare to rub up against Jake in an overly friendly way, and soon the entire herd of them joined in. They chatted happily back and forth, to each other more than to Jake. Jake was ecstatic at first, but it wasn’t long before he began to look nervous as the mares crowded all around him, saying things that drew huge laughs from their fellows, but left him looking uncertain and worried. It was pretty obvious from the side-lines that Jake didn’t understand a fraction of what the mares were talking about, only that they were discussing him, and that they seemed to find the topic hilarious. It was the tears that finally did it for Big Mac. Big fat ones that slipped down Jake’s unhappy face. “Eenope!” he said firmly and forced his way through the herd surrounding Jake, not minding at all if he sent a few of the teasing mares stumbling as he did so. To his surprise, he was joined in his efforts by the guard who had been at the tent. He didn’t say anything, just interposed his not inconsiderable bulk between the mares and Jake. It was such atypical behavior for Big Mac that most of the mares drew back and looked a bit shamefaced. Those what were inclined to push the issue quickly backed off as both he and the big black pegasus guard directed angry looks their way. Despite the unlooked-for help, he couldn’t help feeling that it was his own behavior that left them looking as shocked as if their morning meal had decided to bite them instead of the other way around. Big Mac took advantage of the mares flustered state to gallop off, Jake in his wake. The two stallions thundered down one of the back lanes and out of sight of the fairgrounds. They kept on running till they both began to pant for breath and sweat lathered on their flanks. Big Mac was conscious that they were being followed at a discreet distance by the guard, but as he seemed to be respecting their privacy he decided to pretend he wasn’t there. “Mares are scary,” Jake panted. “Eeyup!” Big Mac agreed full heartedly. The two stallions resumed their walk, moving slowly to catch their breath. Big Mac directed a calculating look toward Jake as an idea occurred to him. It wasn’t really fair; he was too young for it. But after the encounter with the mares, he had to concede that Twilight and Luna’s plan made sense. That left him in a delicate position. Princess Luna had made herself very clear on a certain point. It was all very well and good to say that he and Applejack were going to adopt Jake into the Apple family, but families did not adopt foals, individual ponies did. Jake would be an Apple, but only if Big Mac was willing to take on the role of primary caregiver for Jake. While Big Mac preferred to take his time making decisions, there were times on a farm where that option did not exist. This was not quite that serious a crisis, but it was also something that had been in the back of his mind ever since he had taken Jake out into the orchard that first day. It had only taken a few seconds of thought before he had nodded his head in agreement with Princess Luna’s condition. Unless Jake rejected him in that role, as far as Big Mac was concerned, from that moment Jake was his responsibility. He had no need of official papers assigning him the job. That meant he had the option of simply telling the colt he was going to be treated by Twilight and the princess, and if it came down to it, Big Mac would do it. But, on the whole, it would be much better if it were Jake’s idea. “So, Jake, do you know where foals come from?” he asked casually. Jake’s expression brightened, and he cheerfully said. “Sure do.” “You do?” Big Mac asked, startled. Maybe this wasn’t going to be as hard as he had thought. “Sure. The vet brings them.” On the other hoof. End of part one.